Hot Work Permit at the Shipyard: Ship-Dock Coordination
The hot-work permit must coordinate ship and yard: permission to enter a space does not mean welding or cutting is permitted inside it.
Operational Explanation
Define activity, location, duration, responsibilities and interactions with other work before starting. Required certification depends on local law, space type and previous contents; designation of an officer in the SMS does not replace a legally required qualification or authorisation.
Regulatory Reference
Apply local law, the yard permit system and ship SMS. MSC.581(110) addresses enclosed-space entry. The US example OSHA: hot-work testing, 29 CFR 1915.14 distinguishes Marine Chemist and Shipyard Competent Person responsibilities; it is not a universal rule for every yard.
As a good-practice reference, IMCA HSS032 / M221 Rev. 2, August 2025, section 5.5 addresses firefighting readiness and dedicated hot-work fire watches; 6.2–6.2.1 addresses coordination of ship/yard permits and simultaneous operations. The guidance does not replace local law, authorizations or the SMS. Define the duration and conditions of the post-work watch in the agreed system. IMCA — Guidance on safety in shipyards, Rev. 2.
Scope of Application
Welding, cutting and other ignition-producing activities during repairs. Also assess adjacent spaces, opposite sides of surfaces, connections, residues and coatings; separately coordinate any enclosed-space entry.
Procedure / How to Complete It
- Identify required authorisations and ship, yard and contractor responsibilities.
- Define the task and permit validity, checking interactions with other work.
- Arrange isolation and checks of atmosphere, residues and connected spaces against applicable hot-work criteria.
- Check ventilation, fire watch, communications and response equipment.
- Stop if conditions change; have them reassessed and obtain the necessary reauthorisation before resuming.
- Close the permit only after the required checks and post-work watch.
Practical Example
Ventilation fails during cutting: stop the task, make it safe and request reassessment before resuming. A test at the start of the shift does not establish that conditions remained safe. OSHA: changing hot-work conditions.
What Typically Goes Wrong
Using entry readings as hot-work authorisation, ignoring adjacent spaces or continuing after conditions change.
Common Mistakes Mistake Library
| Mistake | How to avoid it |
|---|---|
| Using entry readings as hot-work authorisation, ignoring adjacent spaces or continuing after conditions change. | Check the individual ship’s requirements and documents before closing the work. |
What the PSCO Checks
Operational Tips
- Define who can stop and who can reauthorise work.
- Record the location, time and person responsible for checks.
- Manage shift handovers and changes in simultaneous activities.
Preparation checklist
- Law and authorisations checked
- Ship-yard permit coordinated
- Adjacent spaces and isolations checked
- Watch and communications operational
- Stop and restart conditions defined
- Final check planned
FAQ
Related Topics
Last substantive revision of this page: 16 September 2026 · page fingerprint 1141ed9eb233